Class 10 history book too puts Arunachal in China

After showing Arunachal Pradesh in Chinese territory in the Class 10 state board geography textbooks, a similar faux pas has surfaced in the new class 10 history textbooks with the north-eastern state included as part of China in the world map.

The world map published on the jackets of the textbooks, which will be used by more than 17 lakh students, contains an incorrect outline of India by showing the region above Assam as part of China, thus leaving out the border state of Arunachal Pradesh.

"We do not know how this happened. The Geological Survey of India has approved the map. The error could have crept in while considerably reducing the size of the world map to fit in the book," said Sarjerao Jadhav, state board chairperson.

On Sunday, the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education sought an explanation from the board of studies for history comprising an expert committee that looks at the subject syllabus and checks the final prints of the maps, graphic and text of the book.

Jadhav said the textbooks would not be recalled. "In a world map, such mistakes can happen and are not be taken seriously. The purpose of the map is not to show the Indian states but to give a general outline of the country."